Parent UniversityParent UniversityPreparing for End-of-Grade Tests

…Standardized tests help educators determine which skills students have mastered and which ones they still need to be taught.

• Overview of North Carolina EOG testing program– Reading EOG (3 – 8)– Math EOG (3 – 8)– Science EOG (5 & 8)

• Academic Preparation• Test-taking Strategies• Practice Tests

Preparing for EOGs Overview

• May 10-13 (End-of-Grade tests: Reading, Math, 8th Science)

• May 17-18 (End of Course test: Algebra I)• May 24-27 (NC EOG Retest: Reading & Math)

all grades• June 1-2 (End of Course Retest: Algebra I)

Testing Window - 2010

*Only one subject can be given on a regular school day (math and reading must be scheduled on consecutive days, science can be scheduled the same week or on a consecutive week).

• Measures reading comprehension and knowledge of vocabulary

• Based on the North Carolina English Language Arts Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS)

• Provides students with selections to read and questions to answer related to those sections

• There are eight (8) sections at grades 3 -5 and nine (9) at grades 6 – 8

Reading EOG

Reading EOG Test Breakdown

Grade Span # of items Time limit(minutes)

3 - 5 50 115

6 - 8 56 115

Math EOG

• Measures student understanding and knowledge of five strands or goals:

1. Number and operations

2. Measurement

3. Geometry

4. Data analysis and probability

5. Algebra

• Based on the North Carolina Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS) for mathematics

• There are calculator active and calculator inactive sections

Calculator Grade Span # of items Time limit(minutes)

Active 3 - 7 54 *135

Inactive 3 - 7 28 *60

Calculator Grade Span # of items Time limit(minutes)

All Active 8 80 *150

Math EOG Test Breakdown

* The Math EOG is virtually untimed

Science EOG

• Administered at grades 5 and 8 • Measures student understanding

and knowledge of principles, concepts, interpret laboratory activities and relate scientific information to everyday situations

• Administration allows calculators on the test and students at grade 8 will also use periodic tables during administration of the test

Calculator Grade Span # of items Time limit(minutes)

All Active 5 and 8 92 *130

*The Science EOG is virtually untimed

Science EOG Test Breakdown

Question Stems and Thinking Skills

Knowledge• Tell, list, describe, relate, locate, fine,

state, name

Organizing• Explain, interpret, outline, discuss,

distinguish, predict, restate, translate, compare, describe

Applying• Solve, show, use, illustrate, construct,

complete, examine, classify

Question Stems and Thinking Skills

Analyzing• Analyze, distinguish, examine, compare,

contrast, investigate, categorize, identify, explain, separate, advertise

Generating & Integrating• Create, invent, compose, predict, plan,

construct, design, imagine, propose, devise, formulate

Evaluating• Judge, select, choose, decide, justify,

debate, verify, argue, recommend, assess, discuss, rate, prioritize, determine

• Discuss your child’s academic performance with him or her – how he or she is doing in school.

• Encourage your child to ask questions about things he or she doesn’t understand.

• Work with your child on his or her homework.

• Communicate with your child’s teacher(s)• Encourage your child to make a

commitment to do well in school and set goals.

Academic Preparation

• Make sure your child eats and rests well the night before the test.

• Make sure your child is on-time the day of the test.

• Use flash cards to review concepts and vocabulary before the test.

• Reduce anxiety by reminding your child to do his or her best, but not with daily reminders about expected performance.

Academic Preparation

• Read all directions carefully.• Skim selections to attempt at

identifying the main idea.• Skim questions so that you know

what to look for when reading the passage.

• Use the process of elimination on multiple choice questions.

Test-Taking Strategies

• Use confident answers to previous questions to assist on difficult questions.

• If you are stuck on a question, move on and return to it later.

• Take time to answer all questions. A blank response is the same as an incorrect response.

Test-Taking Strategies

Grades 3, 5 and 8 – Gateways

Students must:• Meet local promotion requirements• Demonstrate grade-level proficiency

by scoring at or above Achievement Level III on state end-of-grade tests in reading and mathematics

Resources:

www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability

http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/departments/instrAccountability/resources.asp

ANY QUESTIONS?